this week over here

Trying to be very patient these days as there are NO signs of spring in our neck of the woods. Husband and I have searched several times....nada. So I filled the house with daffodils.

The second amaryllis that was planted in mid November finally bloomed. It is a white with delicate red edges, very pretty and a much preferred shorter height.

It is a Hippeastrum Picatee amaryllis. 

Made Ina's Lemon Roasted Chicken from her Barefoot in Paris cookbook. Same way I have always made roasted chicken, just rub butter or olive oil onto the skin, lots of salt and pepper and stuff the cavity with lemons. I left out the yummy croutons that are part of her recipe. The best part of a roasted chicken is the creative meals that come from it for the next few days with the leftover.

Ina Garten photo

After making chicken broth in the traditional way with the carcass, I made a Mexican soup with the freshly made stock, leftover diced chicken, black beans, corn, sauteed diced red pepper and red onions, cumin, chili powder and cayenne pepper. Topped it off with half and half that I whipped a bit,  at the end off the heat. 

Really delicious, the two men in my house loved it! Still had chicken so made Sophie Conran's Chicken and Leek Pie recipe. Very simple to make, dinner was ready in 40 minutes, another man pleaser! Temps have been in the twenties all week so still into the comfort food. 

I have been continuing with my Annie Sloan chalk paining/lessen the amount of brown furniture in the house campaign I have been on. I painted the country dresser in our bedroom that sits under the television yellow, actually a soft gold called Arles. 

It used to be this (before new upholstered bed was purchased)...

Also had the handyman install wood blinds from Overstock (this room photographs terribly from the glare).

After researching the value of similar pieces online, I decided it was fine to paint the dresser. This style of furniture is not popular, the similar dressers I found had not been bid on in online auctions and ours has a crack  in it on the side so any value it had has been diminished. Also painted the sunburst yellow to bring some color to opposite wall. Have not distressed it yet, will let some gold show through.

My fiddle leaf fig cutting just sprouted a new layer of growth! It seems to be happy.

Can you tell what these are? Swimsuits and coverups! Just tried them on, I have to be in them in less than 3 weeks!!!! We are heading to Mexico with teenagers and families for our son's last high school spring break. Husband and I are attempting to get rid of the winter weight quickly. No more comfort food.... light soups, salads and lots of dog walks and exercise. Wish us luck, we need it!

What's going on in your house this week?

this week

We moved one of the bird feeders to the crab apple tree on the patio so we could get a closer look of the goings on of the little critters that live outside our windows. The mess the seeds make is not a problem in the winter as it falls on the patio, so no damage to the myrtle bed and no sunflower sprouts to worry about in the summer. 

I love the shape of the plump mourning doves' little bodies. This was taken yesterday when we still had snow, all melted today. They wait in the tree and then drop down to  sit under the feeder to get dropped seeds. Not sure how they stay so chubby.

The last little bit of snow next to the sweet baby Red Tailed Squirrel. We actually have more black squirrels in our yard. I will get a pic of one to show later.

He or she looked up at me and then turned its back!

The Amaryllis finally bloomed in all its trumpeting glory! It seems to be white, not the Lemon Star like I thought we had bought. I love the whole process of watching it grow, I will never tire of watching a flower come to life! Its sister plant is way behind so perhaps we will see it bloom in the spring!

Still cooking Ina food, made Mac and Cheese and Lemon Chicken but forgot to get the camera, it is difficult for me to remember to photograph food once it is ready. Not sure what I will make next. Going to take advantage of the mild weather today... temps in the fifties, and head to a  Lebanese restaurant for dinner. We picked up the two Ina books I did not have on our last trip to Costco,  Foolproof and how easy is that?

I decided to stop buying paper napkins. We still need them for messy finger food but my collection of cloth napkins, collected over many years, was just sitting in the drawer. We hardly entertain like we used to when we were younger. I placed a group of them in a basket on the counter near the flatware drawer, easy to pick one up and then just throw into the laundry sink nearby when done or we are using them twice, leaving them at our places at the table.

Husband invented a new cocktail the other day when some friends were over for NFL playoff games! I had shown him these two mixers we had for vodka. The cocktail of the day was a Bloody Mary so I was intending to just use the Clamato, the Izze sparkling grapefruit was a backup in case someone did not like tomato juice. He thought I said to use both when making the Bloody Marys. A little miscommunication but we loved it, much lighter and fresher than a regular Bloody Mary. On round two, we all ordered the new concoction! I highly recommend it. He also used the horseradish, lime and worcestershire like usual. I recommend you try it, we are calling it a Bloody Mary Fizz.

And finally, my favorite candle is at the end of its wick this morning. Have you ever used Rigaud candles? 

I have since my mother bought one for me over twenty years ago. She is still the source as that is the only request I give her when she asks for a birthday idea. It is quite a luxury, not something I would purchase for myself. I love the Cypres scent, perfect for winter which is the only time I burn it. There are many more floral scents and I should try them too.

What are you up to this during this dreary time of year?  We have only seen the sun one day in the last two weeks, that day was glorious with a beautiful blue sky but we need more!